American Chamber of Commerce in Madagascar .
ANTANANARIVO – The U.S. government, through the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Rural Access to New Opportunities in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (RANO WASH) project, has donated equipment and supplies to ensure proper sanitation and hygiene in six COVID-19 treatment centers. This donation supports the Ministry of Public Health’s COVID-19 response strategy in coordination with the Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene.
The donation, valued at approximately $10,000, includes washable coveralls, rubber boots, gowns, filter masks, gloves, hand-washing devices, disinfectant sprayers, and other cleaning materials. USAID is sending the materials directly to COVID-19 treatment centers in Alaotra Mangoro, Amoron'i Mania, Atsinanana, Haute Matsiatra, Vakinankaratra, and Vatovavy Fitovinany.
This donation is the latest iteration of USAID’s ongoing collaboration with the Government of Madagascar. The two countries are working together like “mpirahalahy mianala” to ensure the health and protection of the Malagasy people from COVID-19.
To end the global pandemic, USAID is taking bold action. We have contributed billions of dollars to fight COVID-19 in more than 120 countries. In Madagascar alone, the United States has provided $2.5 million in emergency funding to support the Government of Madagascar’s COVID-19 response and repurposed $2.2 million worth of USAID health projects to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. In November and October 2020, USAID donated $29,000 worth of computer equipment through the RANO WASH project to Madagascar’s Ministry of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene to strengthen the Ministry’s information management system and coordination for COVID-19 response. In March, the U.S. government donated “head-to-toe” personal protective equipment to front line health care workers in 13 areas of Madagascar hard hit by COVID-19.
The United States is the largest single-country donor to Madagascar's health sector, providing $74 million in 2020 alone to fund health projects managed by USAID. RANO WASH is USAID's largest water and sanitation project in Madagascar. Over a five-year period, the U.S. government is investing $30 million to improve access to water for hundreds of thousands of people in 250 rural communes in six regions of Madagascar that face a chronic shortage of drinking water.
For more information on the RANO WASH project, visit https://ranowash.org
Source: Press Release by U.S. Embassy Antananarivo / USAID Madagascar
ANTANANARIVO – The United States congratulates Madagascar on the successful arrival of 250,000 doses of the Covishield COVID-19 vaccine on May 8. This shipment was made possible through the COVAX Advance Market Commitment, a global initiative to support equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. The United States recently announced an initial $2 billion obligation — out of a total planned $4 billion — to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to support the COVAX Advance Market Commitment, making us the single largest contributor to global COVID-19 vaccine access. “I want to congratulate the Government of Madagascar for taking action to participate in COVAX and bring much needed vaccines to the Malagasy people,” U.S. Ambassador Michael Pelletier said. “The United States is proud to be the largest contributor to COVAX, helping to ensure the equitable delivery of safe and effective vaccines in Madagascar and around the globe.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that an infectious disease outbreak anywhere is a threat to people everywhere. It is a global problem that requires a global solution, and we are committed to collaborating with partners and governments to support global COVID-19 vaccination efforts.
The U.S. contributions to COVAX, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will support the purchase and delivery of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for the world’s most vulnerable and at-risk populations in 92 low- and middle-income countries. This support is critical to controlling the pandemic, slowing the emergence of new variants, and helping to restart the global economy. The United States will also continue to work with international donors to build further support for the COVAX Facility’s critical needs.
Throughout the pandemic, the United States has worked closely with the Government of Madagascar like “mpirahalahy mianala” to protect public health and strengthen the response to COVID-19. The United States has provided $2.5 million in emergency funding to support the Government of Madagascar’s COVID-19 response and repurposed $2.2 million worth of USAID health projects to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. This COVID response is just a part of U.S. government’s engagement in Madagascar’s health sector, where we are the largest single-country donor. In 2020 alone, the U.S. government provided $72 million to fund USAID’s health activities in Madagascar.
Source: U.S. Embassy Antananarivo / USAID Madagascar
ANTANANARIVO - As we mark World Press Freedom Day 2021, we celebrate the role of a free and independent press, which is as important as ever. Throughout the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the press in Madagascar, Comoros, and around the world have continued to play a critical role in ensuring transparency, informing citizens, and fighting disinformation. A free and independent press plays a unique role during times of crisis, acting as a critical link between governments and the publics they serve.
A free and independent press is also vital to building the public’s trust in government and conveying public concerns to authorities. The United States believes that government transparency and accountability are vital for an effective response to COVID-19. Throughout the pandemic, we have observed governments around the world impose emergency declarations and laws to silence or harass members of the media, civil society, the opposition, or marginalized groups. We have seen authorities use defamation laws to restrict public discussion, prosecute journalists for criticizing the government’s performance, and pressure the media into self-censorship. We believe that government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic must focus on promoting transparency and protecting public health.
We also believe that governments that support a free and open civil society, ensure the right to peaceful assembly and expression, and allow for peaceful and constructive disagreement, are more stable. Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is the foundation for peace, security, and inclusive economic growth.
On this World Press Freedom Day, we recommit to promoting and protecting a free press because the media play such an essential role in preserving democracy and in saving lives. The United States honors the work of journalists every day of the year, but especially today, World Press Freedom Day.
Source: Press Release by the U.S. Embassy Madagascar and Comoros.
Antananarivo - The U.S. Embassy in Madagascar and Comoros joins the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Forest Service, and U.S. embassies around the world in celebrating the 15th annual Air Quality Awareness Week this May 3 - 7 under the theme of “Healthy Air - Important for Everyone.”
Air quality matters because air pollution is a large and growing global threat to human health. The WHO reports that 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe air that contains high levels of pollutants. In fact, about 7 million people die each year as a result of exposure to air pollution – and 4.2 million of those deaths are from outdoor air pollution.
Air pollution occurs when harmful substances are released into the Earth’s atmosphere from sources such as manufacturing and energy production facilities, motor vehicles, cooking activities, field burning, forest fires, dust, and landfills or waste sites. Poor air quality can negatively affect human health, economies, and the environment.
The U.S. Embassy in Antananarivo’s Andranomena district uses an air quality monitor on its grounds to measure PM 2.5 particulates – that is particulates less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter – as an indication of air quality. Often referred to as “fine” particulates, PM 2.5 particulates are believed to pose the greatest health risks for sensitive populations, including those with heart or lung disease, children, and older adults, because they are small enough to directly enter the lungs and bloodstream.
The Environmental Protection Agency has developed a formula to convert PM 2.5 particulate readings into an air quality index (AQI) value that can help inform health-related decisions. For example, an AQI value of 50 represents good air quality with little potential to affect public health, while an AQI value more than 300 indicates hazardous air quality.
Graph 1: Number of days where the standard set by WHO (25 µg/m3) was exceeded.
Graph 2: Evolution of air quality at the U.S. Embassy Antananarivo from November 2019 to February 2021, showing the highest levels of daily averages (2.5 µg/m3)
Daily AQI readings for Antananarivo’s Andranomena district are available on the embassy’s website [https://mg.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulate/embassy/air-quality-monitor] as well as a AQI-dedicated Twitter account [https://twitter.com/AntananarivoAir]. More data from the embassy’s air quality monitor can also be found on EPA’s AirNow website [https://www.airnow.gov/international/us-embassies-and-consulates/#Madagascar$Antananarivo] the same site the EPA uses to display U.S. domestic air quality data.
In the spirit of scientific collaboration, the U.S. Embassy is proud to share this data with scientists, Government of Madagascar officials, and Malagasy citizens alike. The United States is a global leader in air quality policy, science, and technology, and a critical component of U.S. success in reducing air pollution specifically has been the government’s consistent, transparent, and reliable air quality monitoring efforts.
Source: Press Release by U.S. Embassy in Madagascar on April 30, 2021.
This donation of bed nets continues the U.S. government’s commitment to protecting the Malagasy population from malaria.
ANTANANARIVO – Malaria remains one of Madagascar’s major public health problems. It is the fourth leading cause of disease and one of the top reasons people seek care at health centers. In 2020, nearly two million cases of malaria were reported in the country, almost twice the number of cases reported in 2019.
To help address this challenge, the U.S. government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) donated 3,677,000 long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLINs) to the Ministry of Public Health’s National Malaria Control Program (NMCP).
“The United States of America and Madagascar stand side-by-side like ‘mpirahalahy mianala’ as we strive to ensure the good health of the Malagasy people,” said U.S. Ambassador Michael Pelletier in making the announcement. “Mosquito bed nets are an extremely simple and effective method to prevent malaria, but I want to emphasize they must be correctly used and cared for.”
The NMCP recommends sleeping under an insecticide-treated net every night, hanging them carefully above sleeping spaces during the day so the nets are not damaged, washing them only with water, and keeping them away from direct sunlight. These nets block mosquitoes from biting, which prevents transmission of the parasite that causes malaria. Malaria is a severe illness that can result in death and is particularly dangerous for young children and pregnant women. Malaria has many other impacts that hinder the socio-economic development of families and of the country in general, including preventing people from going to work and children from attending school.
The U.S. donation of 3,667,000 bed nets is part of a national campaign by the NMCP, starting in August 2021, to distribute 14 million LLINs to families in 101 districts of Madagascar. The additional 10 million nets will be donated by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (the Global Fund), which receives one third of its funding from the U.S. government. The NMCP and the Global Fund will work with the USAID IMPACT project to distribute the nets. In total, enough bed nets will be provided to protect 26 million people, roughly the entire population of Madagascar.
The United States is the largest single-country donor to Madagascar's health sector, providing $72 million in 2020 alone to fund health activities managed by USAID. This includes $26 million specifically targeted for malaria prevention and treatment. Over two decades, global efforts have saved 7.6 million lives & prevented 1.5 billion cases of malaria. Affected countries achieved these results with help from the U.S. - the largest malaria donor – including $8 billion in investments from PMI over the last 15 years.
Through USAID and PMI, the U.S government takes a wide range of actions to protect the Malagasy people from malaria and has been a consistent contributor to Madagascar’s national bed net distribution campaigns. We also fund annual indoor residual spraying campaigns where, at the start of the malaria season, insecticides certified as safe for humans are sprayed inside homes and public buildings to ward off mosquitoes in targeted districts with high malaria rates. In 2020 alone, we donated more than two million malaria rapid diagnostic tests and nearly two million courses of treatment to cure those who test positive for the disease. And we are working closely with Malagasy public health officials to achieve the ultimate dream -- completely wiping out malaria in some districts of the country.
The video of the full speeches from Ambassador Michael Pelletier and the Ministry of Public Health is available here.
Source: U.S. Embassy Antananarivo / USAID Madagascar - Press release (April 25th, 2021)
The United States and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance (Gavi) applaud new partner commitments announced at this morning’s “One World Protected” event to accelerate global access to COVID-19 vaccines, including more than $300 million in financial contributions as well as in-kind donations including millions of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses to be shared by COVAX. Hosted by the U.S. and Gavi, today’s event launched
The United States Government has already
During today’s event, Secretary Blinken and USAID Acting Administrator Gloria Steele applauded other countries who have made and delivered pledges and urged all partners to do more to end the pandemic. The United States recognizes that as long as COVID-19 is spreading and generating new variants anywhere, it poses a threat to people everywhere. Secretary
The “One World Protected” virtual event convened world leaders, the private sector, the vaccine industry, civil society, and other COVAX partners to launch the new COVAX Investment Opportunity. Presentations took stock of progress to date to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines made the investment case for contributions to COVAX, and encouraged countries and the private sector to make new commitments and galvanize
COVAX is an initiative co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and the World Health Organization (WHO), with the goal to equitably deliver safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines on a global scale. To learn more about Gavi, the COVAX AMC Investment Opportunity and to see a list of pledges, visit the “One World Protected” event page. [https://www.gavi.org/gavi-covax-amc-launch-event-april-2021]
Source: Media Note - U.S. Department of State, available here.
Recent data from the third General Population and Housing Census (RGPH3) indicate a high proportion of women in Madagascar: 13 million women ouf of 25 million inhabitants.
However, despite some progress made, women and girls do not fully enjoy their rights, particularly in health, education, and socio-economic integration. According to the 2018 MICS, 37.7% of women have been victims of physical or sexual violence nationwide. Violence undermines the capacity of women and girls to flourish and limits their effective participation in achieving Madagascar’s sustainable development.
Currently, we are living in an unparalleled time with the Covid-19. Men and women experience the impacts of Covid-19 differently. The economic impact of the pandemic leads to increased violence, sexual exploitation and child marriage. These facts particularly exacerbate the vulnerability of women and girls.
In Madagascar's Grand South, the 2019-2020 agricultural season has been hardly hit by extended drought, the most pronounced in the last decade. Dryness and water inaccessibility have had an acute impact on the daily lives of Malagasy women and has further fostered inequalities between women and men.
The consequences of the drought itself, compounded by the negative effects of lockdown measures and insecurity in some parts of the Grand South, have made the humanitarian situation critical. Women are the most vulnerable: many face challenges in providing for their children, or even their entire families. They deserve much more consideration and should not feel alone and abandoned while carrying these burdens.
It is imperative to reduce these inequalities, to help women and girls in Madagascar to be more resilient in this Covid-19 context, to rise up and achieve gender equality by making them self-reliant.
Such empowerment is an essential condition for their full participation in socio-economic development.
In this month of celebration of women's history and the claim for their rights, let us defend the rights of women to make them autonomous and resilient in a safe environment, conducive to the sustainable development of Madagascar and to an egalitarian future. Let us celebrate these women who dare to break down barriers and stereotypes because they are the pioneers in inspiring and triggering change.
Let us join the UN Secretary-General's statement that “calls on countries, businesses, and institutions to adopt measures and quotas that promote women's participation on an equal footing with men and make a rapid difference.
In post-pandemic recovery, support measures and recovery plans must specifically target women and girls. In particular, it will be necessary to invest in women-owned enterprises and the care economy (...) It is time to build a future of equality. It is everyone's business and for the benefit of all humanity.”
The United Nations system in Madagascar reiterates its commitment to supporting the country in this struggle. The fight goes on, and while we are continuing to respond to the pandemic in 2021, we need to think about building back better!
By Issa Sanogo, Resident Coordinator, United Nations Madagascar
For many decades, the United States has ranked as the #1 destination for international education, attracting scholars from every continent. The number of Malagasy students choosing to study in the United States has increased significantly in recent years, including a 13.5% increase for the academic year 2016-2017. There are currently more than 140 students from Madagascar pursuing university degrees across the United States.
The main attraction for students is the wide array of options in terms of location, size and types of schools, course of studies, and opportunities for personal and professional development. That diversity, however, can seem more like an obstacle than an asset when beginning a search for the right school. The following five steps will help prospective students in the U.S. college admission process, which should begin 12 to 18 months prior to the targeted start date. Most American university programs start in August, though it is often possible to begin in January as well.
Step one
At first, the applicant should be able to answer the following questions, at least vaguely, and to come up with more detailed and definitive answers as the process moves along. But for many Malagasy students, even prior to addressing those questions, the first and foremost question to pose is “How good is my English?” Applicants need to possess a certain level of proficiency to be able to do research, communicate with the school and write personal statements and study objectives.
Once the language barrier is overcome, the next questions should include:
Studying in the Unites States demands researching your options to find a college or university that best fits your needs. You should try to find the school that will support you in achieving long-term goals and meets your requirements – academic, financial, and personal. Come up with details and rank your priorities such as level of study, majors, costs, weather, preferred extracurricular activities, gender and ethnic balance, etc.
Step two
It is highly recommended to start financial planning as early as possible. Like any investment, you need to evaluate what is best for your educational and career goals and what you are able and willing to spend.
In addition to academic achievement, your personal background, your artistic achievements and/or athletic talents can constitute valid grounds for winning financial aid. Often times, national origin might be an advantage especially if the school promotes diversity. Madagascar is an underrepresented country in the U.S., which might attract financial aid offers from the right school. With an equal academic merit and strong personal background, a Malagasy might be given preference over another international student whose country has been overly represented at that particular school. So market your country to the best of your ability.
When looking at financing your studies, location matters. Costs for housing and food vary greatly in the United States depending on where you live. Suburban or rural areas in the South and Midwest of the United States generally have the lower costs of living than the East or West Coast.
The U.S. Embassy also offers the Fulbright Scholarship, a fully-funded Master’s degree program at an American university granted to a few of the most qualified Malagasy applicants every year. Like any financial offer, excellence is the watchword. The competition for Fulbright is intense, and only a few people are selected each year. However, many of our grantees have attended universities in the U.S. that are among the best in their chosen fields.
Step three
Completing an application might sound like a mundane activity, but it can be daunting for many international students. This step covers the general application requirements for U.S. colleges and universities.
In addition to adequate computer literacy, applying for U.S. study is a task that takes time and concentration as every application is different. Each one involves collecting recommendations, writing essays, and routing the results of required standard examinations. Plan to give this step the time it deserves for a successful result.
An original high school or postsecondary transcript will be required for each institution, so start collecting these materials well in advance of application deadlines. Most Malagasy credentials are issued in French, so an official translation of each document will be required. Please remember that deadlines are rarely negotiable.
In order to demonstrate that you have understood all the application questions, please reply to each one; if they do not apply, please clearly say so. Blank fields are often construed as an applicant skipping a question due to lack of understanding. (This is the first of many cultural challenges that Malagasy students need to face in order to have a positive experience in America.)
Step four
It is now time to apply for the U.S. Student Visa, one of the most exciting moments of the whole process for all international students. Applicants will receive an official notification from the schools they have applied to, saying whether they are admitted--with or without financial aid—or they have been rejected. Acceptance letters will be followed by visa documents (I-20 or DS2019) for the students to start completing their visa application. In case of multiple acceptance letters, out of courtesy, students are asked to notify any school they will not attend.
The EducationUSA staff will assist students in preparing for the visa application and provide information on F, J and M Student visa types.
Because visa interviews are short, do your best to explain why you want to study in the United States, how you plan to support yourself while in school, and what your plans are for when your studies are finished.
This is time for Malagasy students to market themselves, to be assertive and straightforward. Some traditional Malagasy ways of communicating – long, flowery speeches; a wandering thought process; great humility; indirect or evasive answers to persons in authority -- have no place during this interview, and may in fact hurt your chances of being approved for a visa. Please do come prepared.
Step five
Preparing for your departure is the final step. Key components include making your travel arrangements, attending a pre-departure orientation at the EducationUSA center, and ensuring you’ll have everything you need at your new school.
The EducationUSA advising center organizes orientation sessions for students getting ready to depart for the United States. An EducationUSA adviser, U.S. alumni, and American diplomats provide information and resources that will help you prepare for new experiences and develop skills to adjust to new challenges. This is an opportunity for students to receive a list of “do’s and don’ts” for the life they are about to embark on and ask questions of others who have been in the same situations. This orientation session addresses topics such as course selection, classroom dynamics, dealing with roommates, homesickness, volunteer opportunities, sexual harassment, shopping tips, weather, American culture, punctuality, personal space, cultural differences, motivation, academic systems and expectations, housing, and coping in a new cultural setting.
These steps represent an exciting time of life. The U.S. Embassy has many resources available to help you make the right decision about studying in the United States, to choose the right college or university for your academic goals, social interest, and ideal living environment. EducationUSA is the official source for higher education information in the U.S.
Contact information for EducationUSA Madagascar:
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